Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1887-12-23

me BIO" was falling in great soft fakes
and lay thick upon the pavement. and She
bent before the wind as she made what haste
she could. As she walked along she wondered
Tor moment at the holiday aspect Of the
street, and then she suddenly remembered
with great pang, that it was Christmas
Eve, and two sudden tears rolled from her
eyes and trickled slowly down her cold cheeks
Everybody she met, even in that poor loca.
uoIa, seemed to have something in their hands
toys, cheap and tawdry, it is true, but stiIl
something TO hEiac i0y to child's heart-but
this poor little woman could buy nothing. No,
even so much as bit Of candy, for sterr
necessity had laid too strong hand upon thi,
oesolate little family for the spending even
OF one penny On anything but food, fuel and
rent. Choking back the unruly sobs tha,
would mount up the little woman at last
reached the butchers shop where she dealt.
when she had anything to buy with, and here
she bought soup bone for ten cents, a car.
rot, a turnip and two potatoes for five cents.
aud then as the fat butchers fatter wife put
them In paper bag she slyly added two rosy
apples from barrel and two big red onions.
and the butcher being busy just then selling
a fine turkey to the proprietor of boarding
house did not see it.
For the babies, ma'am, with nv love
said the jolly woman, "and 1 wish it was
moreu
Abby Hicks stood moment irresoiute.
with the red spots Of shame burning in her
cheeks, for never before had she accepted a
gift, and yet her heart was glad for her
children and lighter for the womanly syrnpa-
thy which she felt had actuated this meager
gift.
THANK you was all she could trust her
self to say, and she hurried away, and from
there she went to the little corner grocery
where her wants were supplied when accom-
panied by cash. Here she bought five cent
loaf and pail Of coal
Nothing elsefn asked the grocer's clerk.
we have some fine turkeys and cranberries:
chickens, too, first rate Philadelphia dry
picked; raisins, apples, jelhes, celery-nothing
at ALI"
mo, thank you" said Abby, hurrying
away.
The coal had taken her last cent She got
out again into the street on her way back
and hurried onward, only anxious TO get
back 10 where she could weep her heart out
in her woe, for where is an agony keener for
mother than to deprive her children of the
joy that is rightfully theirs on Christmas
day. Dear little Robbiel He would hear
the other children blowing their tin trum-
pets and beating their drums, and his sturdy
little heart had always desired one and the
other by turns And good, gentle Ruthie!
How her moi soul had longed for a real
dolll Not the old rag doll, but a real one,
with fair hair and blus eyes. And this
mother had promised long ago that she
would write long letter to Santa Claus and
tell him what good little children they were,
and now they would grieve over his neglect,
What should she doi She had nothing to
sell that they could by any possibility spare.
Everything had been sold long ago that
could bring anything at all; and now, to add
to her despair, huclster's wagon, loaded
with cheap toys, stopped Just in front Of her,
and the strong lunged hucksters began cry
ing out their wares. Again she quickened
her PAGE, and went on blndly up the stairs to
her miserable home, all the while her heart
nearly bursting with its agony as memory
pictured this home as it had been only ten
short years ago Yes, on this very anniver-
sary, and she dressed in white satin, with
pearls and beautiful laces, was the envied
beauty of the great ball. Where now were
all those brilliant lights, the flowers, the ssr-
wants, her sweet faced mother and nobls
farherf